Sheet-edge block



@fito 23, 1928.

J. L. DRAKE SHEET EDGE BLOCK Filed May 25. 1925 ml/5mm)? L707? Lprake M;

Patented oct. 23, 1928.

l 4 1,688,529 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES :ronn L. DRAKE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY, OF TOIQEDO, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-EDGE BLOCK.

Application filed May 25, 1925; Serial No. 32,555.

The present invention relates to sheet glass apparatus, and has particular reference to means for creating an edge on the sheet being drawn sufiiciently strong toprevent nars rowing of the sheet.

An important object of the invention 1s to provide stationary means at both edges of the sheet being drawn from a mass of molten glass, the said means being adapted to form in a relatively viscous edge on the sheet to prevent narrowing thereof.

Still another 'objectof the invention is to provide stationary width maintaining means, the said means consisting of 15 a slotted block and having means associated therewith for creating a suction on the edges of the sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet glass apparatus including width as maintaining means consisting of a slotted block arranged at each edge of the sheet being drawn, the said blockbeing formed preferably from a non-corrosive metal and being formed to permit a circulation of a coolas in medium therethrough.

' %ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are as employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of sheet drawing mechanism showing one of my improved devices in section, 1

Fig. 2 is a top' plan view thereof partly in section for the purposes of illustration,

Fig. 3 is a front view of one of the devices,

Fig. 4 is a top Ian, and

a Fig. 5 is a simi ar View showing a portion an of the block removed.

in drawing sheet glass in accordance with the Colburn Patent 1,248,809, granted December 1917, a draw-pot containing a mass of molten glass 11 is provided, and a'sheet as '12 is drawn in the vertical plane a short distance, after which it is deflected over a bending member 13. The glass is then run over a flattening table and through an. annealing leer.

In accordance with the Colburn machine a pair of rotatable knurl rolls are provided at both edges and on either side of the sheet to form an edge thereon sufliciently viscous to prevent narrowing of the sheet to an appreggg ciable extent. It is an aim of the present insubstantially vention to substitute a slotted block for the knurl rolls to obviate the necessity for the driving mechanism and to also cut down the gmmnt of waste that has heretofore been The invention-consists of a block designated in its entirety by the numeral 14, and is preferably formed from any of the wellknown non-corrosive metals such as monel, nichrome, etc. A slot 15 is provided through which the border portions 16 of the sheet pass. The slot is so shaped that a bead 17 will be formed on the sheet.

A cavity 18 is formed in the block and has communication with the slot 15 by means 0f 70 the very small passageway 19. A suitable pipe line 20 is connected to the cavity 18 whereby a suction may be created which will function through the passageway 19 and draw the glass within the slot 15 outwardly and away from the center of the sheet. The amount of suction can be controlled to positively hold the sheet edges from contracting while they are within the slotted block but at the same time the suction should not be sufficiently strong to prevent a free passage of the sheet edge through the said block.

To revent the passageway 19 from becoming fil ed with glass, the bloclimay be formed in twopieces and the faces between the cavity'18 and slot 15 ma be removed a few thousandths of an inch, t us forming the passageway 19 which will be comparatively very small. This will permit the suction to be applied to the edges of the sheet while at the same time the glass will not enter within the said passage.

The blockis preferably formed hollow as at 21 to permit a cooling medium 22 to be circulated therethrough. Connections 23 are provided to allow a continuous flow of the cooling medium. The cooling of the edge is preferably localized to the extreme edge or heel of the bead.

The operation of the machine with these width maintaining devices will be slightly different than with the knurled rolls.- The edges of the glass sheet being drawn up will be pulled through the slot 15 in the block, and because of the inherent tendencies of molten'glass a certain amount of frictional resistance willlbe had between the moving dium 22. The coolin suction is applied to the extreme edges, preventing lateral movement of the glass while within the block. A slight contraction may take place after the glass leaves the blocks,-

but at the same time the edges will be strong enough .to prevent a decidedly noticeable con traction.

The numeral 24 designates a support for holding the block in operable position with relation to the pct 10. Any form of support may be used whereby various adjust ments of the block may be had. 1

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be takenas the'preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims: y, v

1. In sheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means to draw a sheet therefrom, slotted means arranged at the edges of the sheet being drawn, the edges of the sheet passing through and contacting with said slotted means, means for creating a suction within the slotted means, and

means for circulating a cooling medium I through said slotted means to prevent narrowing of said sheet.

2. In sheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means for drawing a sheet therefrom, a stationary slotted member arranged above the surface of the glass from which the sheet is drawn, the edges of the sheet passing through the said slotted memberyand means for creating a suction within said member to prevent narrowing of the sheet.

3. Insheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means for drawing asheet therefrom, and a block member arranged at each edge of the sheet, each of the block members having a slot therein through which the edges of the sheet pass, and a cavity arranged in proximity to the slot, the cavity having a partial vacuum therein, the slot and cavity being connected whereby the glass in the slot will be urged away from the center of the sheet.

4. In sheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means for drawing a sheet therefrom, and a slotted block arranged at each edge of the sheet, means for creating a suction on that portion of the glass within the slotted block, and means for lowering the temperature of the block.

5. In sheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means for drawing a sheet therefrom, a stationary slotted member'arrang'ed above the surface of the glass from which the sheet is drawn, the edges of 'the sheet passing through the said slotted member, means for creating a suction within said slotted member to prevent narrowing of the sheet, and means for circulating a cooling medium through said slotted member.

6. In sheet glass apparatus including a mass of molten glass, means for drawing a sheet therefrom, a slotted block arranged at each edge of the sheet, means for creating a suction on that portion of the glass within the slotted block, and means for circulating a cooling medium through said block.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas.

and State of Ohio, this 22nd day of May,

' JOHN L. DRAKE. 

